October Fishing

Ill be in Orange beach this October, and plan on making a fishing trip out of it. I want to fish off both the surf and the pier.

My only real goal is to catch fish that I can eat. I would love to catch big fish, but really are just concerned on catching something I can eat without to much trouble..and of course catch enough to feed 4 people. I love fish, and aren't too picky. If there considered eating fish, ill eat them.

Can you guys give me some information on what Ill be fishing for in October and whats the most efficient way of catching them? Live bait? artificial bait? surf? pier? Im going to stop in at J&M first thing to get my gear so ill try and get advise from them but The more I know before Im down there the better.

Also new to the forum, It seems like there is a lot of good people here with tons of information to share. Thanks for having me.

Recent similar thread:

http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...-needed-10605/

Welcome to the Forum, Duke. Any question you need answered is right here. Use the Search button, put in a key word, such as "surf", or "flounder", or anything you need to know, and you can read all the previous posts regarding that subject. Quick, easy, accurate, important stuff. Enjoy!

The first half of Oct. ranks an 8/10 for big spanish and kings if they cooperate. You should have no problem catching enough to feed your crew. The search feature at the top right of your screen will aid you in finding all the info you will need. Hunt me down when you come into J&M.

Thanks fellas, new to forums in general so Im not too sure how everything works, heck I couldn't even figure out how to reply to this lol. Found the search feature, ill start using this.

So you work at J&M? I will for sure look you up, ill need all the help I can get lol.

Talking to some other guys in a local forum I just joined as well they told me to go down to Fort Morgan and walk to the point and fish whats called Dixie Bar. Im trying to locate this on google maps, and im pretty sure I have. I found a parking area at the end there, but is looks like a long haul to the "point".

Is my best shot the the big kings and Spanish off the pier?

Yep, if you don't have a boat, then the best bet for Spanish & kings is the pier.

Ft. Morgan is our " go to " place for surf fishing. Dixie Bar is the western edge of Ft. Morgan, and an excellent place for large Redfish and Black Drum; also flounder, pompano, whiting, and many more species. Mobile St. is the eastern edge of Ft. Morgan, and is also an excellent fishing hole. In between these two points are ten miles or so of great places to surf fish, and October is prime time there. We will be there in the early part of October surf fishing.

The_Duke...John G IS J&M!

Only half. The "M" is my brother Mike.

I think thay Oct is the best month of the year to fish. Crowds have moved on and the weather is nicer than summer. You can catch lots of fish too. Primo flounder and redfish time. Right now we are in that summer dog days time and I am eagerly waiting for sept-oct fish killing time.

The_duke:
in case you didn't understand it all, J&M is the place to go. John G is the owner along with his brother Mike. He said to look him up and I would do just that. He's a busy man, but if he gets too busy, he'll put you in touch with one of his his most knowledgeable staff. You're also just as likely to run into John on the pier. Good fishing.

Do you catch many keeper pompano and flounder in the surf in October? I'm torn between bowhunting and making a trip down to fish. Also are swimming pools still warm enough to swim in in the later part of October down there?

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Originally Posted by bodebum

Ft. Morgan is our " go to " place for surf fishing. Dixie Bar is the western edge of Ft. Morgan, and an excellent place for large Redfish and Black Drum; also flounder, pompano, whiting, and many more species. Mobile St. is the eastern edge of Ft. Morgan, and is also an excellent fishing hole. In between these two points are ten miles or so of great places to surf fish, and October is prime time there. We will be there in the early part of October surf fishing.

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October is my favorite month of the year. I retired in 1994 and spent the entire month in gulf shores and fished the pier every day. Since then I always try to spend some time there during Oct and Nov which I also like. It is a great fishing time for many good eating species of fish. I make it a point to eat some type of fresh fish every day I am at the gulf and bring home a supply for the freezer..

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Originally Posted by chillinfish

Do you catch many keeper pompano and flounder in the surf in October? I'm torn between bowhunting and making a trip down to fish. Also are swimming pools still warm enough to swim in in the later part of October down there?

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The fishing can be great, as long as the bad cold air stays away. The surf is fine, but I would not know about swimming pools. I swim in creeks here at home, and the Gulf when we are down there.

Swimming pools are cool in late October. I was there last year from the 20th thru the 25th and the pool at our condo was cold in mid afternoon. I swam in it one time and still suffer from major shrinkage. :p Fishing was good, took pomps, whiting, flounder, spec's and slot reds fishing Ft Morgan beaches and Mobile Bay at the fort. The best thing about October surf fishing along Ft Morgan, is that you pretty much have the beach to yourself. Most of the rental houses are empty which allows for no hassle access to Ft Morgan beaches. I'll be down for the entire month of October this year.

Well, I am certainly jealous. October is prime time, and having a lot of real estate to fish is terrific. We are going to be on Veterans Rd., 3rd-10th, and I am so looking forward to it.

http://i.imgur.com/iBPnXQM.png

Is what I outlined in read the Dixie bar that I need to be fishing? Or is it on the inshore side? Sorry if Im not understanding, its my first time fishing and venturing outside of the condo beach. I Like the idea of fishing off the surf better than the pier because all Im wanting to do is catch enough fish to eat for a night or two, and possible bring a few freezer bags back home with me. Also the pier seems intimidating.


Also I just noticed Im staying in the hotels right behind the small fishing pier in Orange beach. The pier doesn't seems to go gas far out as the gulf shores pier, can anyone tell me about fishing here?

About where that round gray dot about 200yds east of the point is a good general area to start. As for the pier on the gulf in OB,it is private owned by Four Seasons Condo. Don't even bother with the city pier on the bay by the kids park.

thanks John. Im actually staying at four seasons, so I should have access to it. This might be a good and bad thing. Less of a crowd so it will be more forgiving for a new comer, but at the same time there will be less people for me to observe and mimic lol. This vacation cant come soon enough lol

It's a 30 mile (one way) trip from Four Seasons to Fort Morgan (just sayin ;-)
You'll have good areas to surf fish much nearer than that in Orange Beach OMHO.
The east side of Perdido Pass bridge comes to mind for redfish that time of year...

Should I fish the surf to the east of the bridge, or fish the east side going inland to the bay?

Yes, and yes! Sorta kinda depends, if you know what I mean. We have done well at the pass and the surf. We have been skunked at both places. If I could only hit one location on a given day, it would be strolling along the beach with fresh peeled shrimp, Gulp with jigs, and Fish Bites. I'd do it right now if I could.

Live pinfish in either location.
I like under the bridge on incoming at the east jetty on outgoing.

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Originally Posted by The_Duke

thanks John. Im actually staying at four seasons, so I should have access to it. This might be a good and bad thing. Less of a crowd so it will be more forgiving for a new comer, but at the same time there will be less people for me to observe and mimic lol. This vacation cant come soon enough lol

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we always stay at the four seasons. we filled a cooler with spanish mackerels a couple of weeks ago and there were a couple of kings caught/hooked during the week. the fishermen there are not as knowledgeable or friendly as those on the GSPP.

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Originally Posted by Pier#r

Live pinfish in either location.
I like under the bridge on incoming at the east jetty on outgoing.

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What size pinfish do you use for this? Float or bottom rig?

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Originally Posted by Mattb

What size pinfish do you use for this? Float or bottom rig?

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Any size really 3"-5" is best.
The redfish run from 20" up to bulls.
Carolina or Fishfinder rig on bottom with just enough weight to hold it in place.
A fair sized circle hook through the base of the first dorsal spine will keep the bait frisky and hook the fish in the mouth (for C & R).

I feel your pain with the bowhunting thing. October is great on the gulf but the deer are moving too. Tough decision for me every year.

A big redfish can not resist a 5-8" croaker. They can be hard to find and harder to keep alive but easy to catch on tiny hooks and cut fresh dead shrimp. I have found them hanging around the bridge pilings under Perdido Pass bridge but more around a lighted dock on the bay or lagoon.

Ok so aside from my fishing poles and tackle, what are the must haves for surf fishing?

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Originally Posted by The_Duke

Ok so aside from my fishing poles and tackle, what are the must haves for surf fishing?

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It's nice to have an official spokesperson along to tell every tourist what you have caught, what bait you are using, and why you aren't fishing at x,y, or z.

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Originally Posted by backwoods

It's nice to have an official spokesperson along to tell every tourist what you have caught, what bait you are using, and why you aren't fishing at x,y, or z.

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Hint: have cards printed ;-) lol
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...tid=4080&stc=1

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Originally Posted by The_Duke

Ok so aside from my fishing poles and tackle, what are the must haves for surf fishing?

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Cooler with ice, long needle nose pliers, sand spikes for rods to stand in, Aerator for live shrimp, insulated bait bucket, hand trucks or beach cart for hauling everything, umbrella, sunscreen, wide brimmed hat, camera, patience, sense of wonder, ability to enjoy catching and not catching, ....and uhh....I forget what else.

I usually stay at 4 seasons for a few weeks to a month every fall. At that time of year there is a group of regulars there that come every fall. Some of them for 15 years or more. Most are friendly and helpful at that time and willing to offer suggestions to a newcomer.

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Originally Posted by bodebum

Cooler with ice, long needle nose pliers, sand spikes for rods to stand in, Aerator for live shrimp, insulated bait bucket, hand trucks or beach cart for hauling everything, umbrella, sunscreen, wide brimmed hat, camera, patience, sense of wonder, ability to enjoy catching and not catching, ....and uhh....I forget what else.

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Awesome! Much appreciated!
What kind of portable aerator and insulated bait bucket would I need?

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Originally Posted by Pier#r

Hint: have cards printed ;-) lol
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...tid=4080&stc=1

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Great Idea, ill do just that. From now until my trip I'm going to look over and memorize fish Identification as much as possible.

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Originally Posted by The_Duke

Great Idea, ill do just that. From now until my trip I'm going to look over and memorize fish Identification as much as possible.

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I have a "limits" card like this taped to the inside-top of my tackle box. I'll change it out if I'm fishing in FL. It serves as mostly a notice to enforcement personnel that I'm mindful of the restrictions. I also keep a tape measure in the top of my tackle box for the same purpose. I've had an enforcement officer ask me, before, "How do you know that your fish are legal size?" I show him/her the measuring tape.

Oh -- about the kind of aerator -- I use the one called, "Bubble Box" and it works really well. I use a bigger, five gallon insulated bucket in the warmer months (holds more water, of course) and a smaller, half-sized one in the Spring and Fall (easier to carry). Pretty sure that you can get them at J & M, when you get your bait.

Our sand spikes are 1 1/2" PVC pipe, cut to about 36" long, with a 45 degree angle on one end. We take them with us on our trip, and leave them there at the house we rent, or give them to someone.

After reading another post in this forum I've decided on buying the Penn Fierce II combo. Its cheap enough to where I can buy two of them, but looks like its a pretty decent rod and will hopefully hold up. Everywhere I looks it has great reviews. The reels seems to be stellar, but the few people who gave it sub par reviews said the rod was a bit weak. Again on every store I was looking at it had a 5/5 or 4/5 rating with lots of reviews.

I asked in another thread but Ill ask here as well, how do you guys transport your rods on your drive to the beach? Will be driving in a small ford escape so I cant really fit the rods in the car with the wife and kiddos. I know I cant be the only who's ran into this problem lol. My wife's car gets way better gas millage than my truck, otherwise I'd throw them in the bed.

Fishing around the docks at 4 seasons (if you are staying there) can produce pretty good.

All of our rods are 2 pc., just because of that pesky transport issue.